Noah’s Ark (Genesis 6:5-8:19)

The popular story of Noah’s Ark is found early on in the book of Genesis. It describes how Noah built a large boat to save his family, as well as various animals, from a great flood. The episode, which is described as taking place early in human history, explores a number of themes – judgment, faith and conservation.

After the murder of Abel, Genesis says that human civilization went rapidly downhill. There was widespread violence and corruption. However, there was one good family left – a man called Noah, his wife, his three sons, and their wives. Noah was a man of great faith. As Genesis puts it, he “walked with God.” (6:9)

God warned Noah that a great flood would soon destroy the world. He ordered him to make a large wooden boat – an ‘ark’ – to save himself and his family. God also said the ark should be designed to preserve a variety of animals. So as instructed, Noah built an immense ship with a roof, three decks, a door and a window. 

The New Testament describes Noah as a “preacher of righteousness” (2 Peter 2:5). This suggests that he tried to warn others about the upcoming flood. But nobody would listen. So it was that only Noah and his family – eight people in total – went aboard the ark. 

The group took many different kinds of animals with them – and these went in two by two. Then torrential rain, which lasted for forty days and forty nights, totally flooded the land. The waters rose far above the highest mountains, sweeping everything and everyone away. The ark, however, floated on the waves. 

After a hundred and fifty days, a wind arose and the floodwaters began to go down. In the seventh month, the ark came to rest on the mountains of Ararat, in what is now Turkey. At the start of the tenth month, the mountain-tops appeared. Forty days later, Noah opened the window and sent out a raven and a dove. 

The raven did not return, but the dove did. After seven days, Noah sent it out again. This time, it came back with an olive branch in its beak. It was then that Noah realised that dry land had appeared. Over a year after they had entered the ark, Noah and his family docked the ark and finally stepped ashore. 

In Christian tradition, righteous Noah came to symbolise Christ, while the floodwaters became a symbol of the Sacrament of Baptism (1 Peter 3:20-21). Similarly, the wooden ark was identified with the wood of the cross, while the dove was seen as a sign of the Holy Spirit (cf Wisdom 14:7; Matthew 3:16).

This beautiful mosaic of Noah’s Ark is found within the church of St John the Baptist, in Rochdale. This Byzantine-style church features a stunning mosaic scheme by the Ludwig Oppenheimer firm that covers the entire sanctuary. Designed and executed by Eric Newton between 1932-1933, it includes many biblical scenes and symbols, many reflecting a theme of judgment. 

This scene shows Noah’s Ark on the mountains of Ararat, while the floodwaters recede around. The Latin caption is from Genesis 9:17 and refers to God’s promise to Noah about the rainbow: “This is the sign of the covenant that I have established between me and all flesh that is on the earth.”

See the full image:

Where to find this work of art
St John the Baptist, Rochdale

Read the relevant passage
Genesis 6:5-8:19

On a similar theme

From the Old Testament: God made a covenant with Noah and his descendants that such a great flood would never happen again.
From the New Testament: The gospel story of Christ stilling the tempest also underlines God’s power over the wind and waves.